FORT WADSWORTH -- The 226-acre expanse of historic Fort Wadsworth provided uncrowded quarters Sunday afternoon for beach-goers, bicyclists, dog walkers and folks out to enjoy the spectacular view of the Narrows near the imposing granite walls of old Fort Tompkins.

In the hilltop visitors' parking lot, George Bouquio, a native Staten Islander who lives in Port Richmond, was unhitching bicycles from the back of his vehicle.

The plan was to pedal to Cedar Grove Beach for lunch, along with his wife, Barbara and their friends -- John and Dorothy Hurley -- and then travel on to Great Kills, before riding back to Fort Wadsworth, he said.

Gloria Kellner of New Dorp was visiting the fort's hilltop with Bella, her sweet, 7-year-old Italian greyhound, who weighs only 12 pounds. Fort Wadsworth is a favorite spot to walk the pooch, she said, remarking that Bella "runs 30 mph in the yard around our house."

Another dog walker who enjoys Fort Wadsworth's grounds is Grayce Novaro, a Rosebank resident formerly of Prince's Bay. Her 8-year-old Mia, a Rhodesian ridgeback "without the ridge," enjoys the beach on the fort's grounds, "and also likes the South Beach Boardwalk, by the bocce courts. She loves the ocean, and swam a little bit last week."

Bicyclists were giving themselves a vigorous workout on the steep road leading to the scenic overlook across from Fort Tompkins, built from 1859 to 1876 by the U.S. Army -- the second Fort Tompkins on this site.

And a trio of motorcyclists arrived, all members of the international Gunfighters Motorcycle Club, open only to active and retired law-enforcement personnel, said Joe Rasile of Arden Heights. He was traveling with fellow bikers Perry Vazquez of Morris Park in the Bronx, and Tim Bridgeman, visiting from Clemson, S.C.

The drive from South Carolina to Staten Island took 13 hours, Bridgeman reported.